Henby s



(No Model.)

H. S. TOM'PKINS.

-Cide'r Press.

Patented Jan. 11,1881.

jaw/27021 MPEYERS. PHQTOMTMOGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON. u C.

Ntra STATES iarent trice.

HENRY S. TOMPKINS, OF LA SALLE, NEW YORK.`

ClDER-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,467, dated January 11, 1881.

Application filed November 17, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that HENRY S. TouPKINs, of La Salle, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cider-Presses, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more particularly to the means whereby the trucks carrying the pomace are moved toward and from the press. Previous to my invention these trucks have been moved to and from the press in a straight line, which arrangement compels both trucks to be charged and unloaded on opposite sides of the press, thereby necessitating the use of two'pomace-receptacles, one on each side of the press, and the employment of attendants at each side of the press for loading and unloading the trucks.

The object of my invention is to simplify this operation by so arranging the apparatus that both trucks can be loaded at the same place from the same pomace-receptacle.

My invention consists, first, in providing a circular track which passes through the pressframe, and upon which the trucks are run to and from the press, whereby both trucks are enabled to be loaded and unloaded at the same place 5 second, in arranging this circular track in an inclined plane having its lowest pointin the press-frame, whereby the loaded trucks are moved toward the press by gravity; third, in arranging a juice passage or receptacle within the circular track and providing each truck with a iiexible pipe, which is inserted into this passage or receptacle and remains therein during the loading, moving, and pressing of the truck and its contents, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in line .fr Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the bed-timbers of a ciderpress, and B a platform or iioor, arranged above the timbers A and supporting two concentric circular tracks, c c.

D D are two trucks running on the tracks c c', which latter pass over the bed-timbers A between the vertical tie-rods e of the press, while the remaining portions of the tracks c c lie beyond the press-timbers or outside of the press-frame. I

frepresents the inner truck-Wheel, andff' the two outer truck-wheels, each mounted on a separate shaft, which turns in bearings secured to the under side of the truck-frame.

The platform B, on which the tracks c c are 6o arranged, is inclined from the center line of the press-timbers A upward toward a point in the track lying diametrically opposite the center line of the press-timbers, as clearly shown in Fig. l, whereby the tracks c c are given a downward inclination toward the press on both sides thereof.

g represents a juice-receptacle or passage arranged within the inner track, c', and 7i is a tleXible tube attached to each truck for the 7o purpose ot' conveying the juice from the truck to the receptacle or passage g.

D represents the truck in position on the press-timbers, and D the truck in the position in which the pomace is placed upon the same previous to moving it upon the press-timbers, and in which the cheese is removed from the truck after the juice has been pressed out of the same. The trucks D D pass over the tracks c c in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8o 2. The truokD/beingloaded with pomace, and the pomace on the truck D havin-g been pressed out, both trucks are moved in the direction of the arrow, so as to exchange places, the loaded truck D taking the place of the truck D in the press-frame, and the truck D beingmoved to the place which the truck D occupied 011 the track. During this movement of the trucks the loaded truck descends on the inclined track toward the press, and consequently re- 9o quires but little force to move it, while the light truck, which has lost the greater part of its weight by pressing the juice out of the pomace, is pushed up the incline and past the apex thereof, under the pomace bin or receptacle, where it is recharged with pomace after removing the pressed cheese. The flexible tube h is placed with its lower end into the juice-receptacle g when the truck is ready to receive its load of fresh pomace, and it reroo mains in the receptacle g while the truck is moved to the press and while the juice is being pressed out, so that the juice Which drains oft' in loading the truck with pomace and While the truck is moved to the press, and which is pressed out by the press, is all conducted to the receptacle g. Those portions of the two tracks c o which lie within the pressframe are preferably arranged in a horizontal plane. rEhe truck, after being placed Within the press-frame, is raised in the usual manner by wedgesz' engaging under corresponding inclines j, on the lower sides of the truck-frames, in order to relieve the running-gear from all strain While the juice is being pressed out.

By the employment of the circular track both trucks are enabled to be loaded with pomace or unloaded at the same place, thereby avoiding the inconvenience of both loading and discharging on opposite sides of the press, which exists in presses in which the trucks move in a straight track, and a's one truck can be in the press While the other is being unloaded or loaded an almost continuous action of the press is secured.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, With a press, of a circular track Which passes through the pressframe and upon which the trucks carrying the material to be subjected to the action of the press are moved to and from the press.

2. The combination, with a press, of a circular track which passes through the pressframe and which lies in an inclined plane the lowest point of which is in the press-frame, whereby the loaded truck is moved toward the pressframe by gravity.

3. The combination, with a press, of a circular track which passes through the pressframe, a juice receptacle or passage, g, arranged Within the circular track, and a truck having a iiexible tube, h, which leads from the truck to the juice-receptacle, substantially as set forth. v

HENRY S. TOMPKINS.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, EDW. J. BRADY. 

